Lesser Emperor at Ormesby!

What a great day out with my oldest chum Martin Read! More in hope than expectation, we started off at  Ormesby Little Broad, where we soon added Brown & Norfolk Hawker to the day-list. While we were scanning the Broad from the viewing platform, a dashing little Hobby made a pass or two at a Black-headed Gull, while a pair of Buzzards loafed over the woodland.

Kingfisher, Red-eyed Damselfly and Black-tailed Skimmer joined the list, before the star attraction turned up: a pristine Lesser Emperor! We had fabulous views as this sought-after dragonfly tazzed backwards and forwards. It was so unpredictable - and fast! - that I held out little hope of any photos: but, mirabile dictu, I managed four reasonable efforts!

Stroll around the Fen

On the spur of the moment I dropped into Strumpshaw after the Post Office run: quite by chance I bumped into Norman and his charming wife, Gillian and joined them in a circuit of the reserve.

Nothing amazing, but lots of Norfolk, Brown and Southern Hawkers and the paths were alive with Black-tailed Skimmers and Large and Small Skippers.

From Tower Hide we enjoyed close views of a pair of Common Terns as well as all the usual suspects.

Good news from Broadland Business Park!

On the way back from a Sunday carboot I dropped into the Waterside Café at Broadland Business Park. There had been some concern online that the draining of the lake during the winter might've reduced its attractiveness to Odonata, but I'm happy to say there were both Norfolk Hawkers and Emperors there today! (Photos courtesy of Linda's phone!)

 

Frit fright!

While doing a spot of garden maintenance just now (4.00pm) I was cleaning out pump filters and up to my armpits in pond water. A large fritillary (my immediate thought was Silver-washed) flew around my head and over the fence, never to return...

Now if I spark up the barbecue, perhaps it will be enticed back by the aroma of veggie sausages and prosecco!

Upton with Linda

For comedic effect, I nearly entitled this post 'Upton no good with Linda!' but that wouldn't have been true in any sense!

Although we didn't manage to photograph them, we did see a couple more Common Hawkers and four Southern Hawkers: hope for the future!

Things we did manage to point a lens at included one of three Hobbies, a really smart Four-spotted Chaser, three Norfolk Hawkers and a Common Darter.

Oh! There were Southern Marsh Orchids everywhere: never seen so many!

Odds and ends at Upton

On a whim, I popped across to Upton Fen for an hour or so: a good decision as it happens!

As soon as I left the car park I became aware that a good 'hatch' of everything had taken place: there were damsels, dragons and butterflies everywhere, while Hobbies cruised above to pick off the high-flyers!

During the walk round I came across four Swallowtails (three were pristine: the one I photographed was a wee bit 'pecked!) The first Southern Hawker of the year perched high in a tree, while Norfolk Hawkers were everywhere.

As I squelched through a sun-dappled boggy glade a large dragonfly flitted from one reed stem to another, frustratingly out of sight apart from two wings. But! The fore-wing I could see had a yellow costa! It had to be a Common Hawker! I crept slowly past to try for a photo, only to find I was too close to focus my 500mm lens! I took three quick shots (the best of which is below....

So, after a cool four years, I was certain I'd added Common Hawker to my Norfolk list: however, Adrian from 'Bugalert' was kind enough to look at my fuzzy picture and call it as a female Southern Hawker! Oh well: back next week!

Leapin' lizards and marvelous Monties! ('Somewhere in Norfolk')

I guess those 'in the loop' knew about these a while back, but it was a great thrill for Martin & me to catch up with these two great rarities (in Norfolk terms, anyway!)

Distantly over a wheat field, we glimpsed a female Montague's Harrier and, a little closer, her mate carrying a food offering: my camera was still set up from previous uses and I messed up most of the images: but you can just about identify the bird...

Another terrific find was this row of Giant Hogweed: all too frequently destroyed in our 'nanny state'.

I took more care over the Lizard Orchid: the first in Norfolk for sixty years and just fifty yards from the car! Astonishing!

Requests from friends for further info considered...